Throwing Fruit at Drug Dealers: Tales of an Irish Pilot

by Ian Dandleroar, Mark Batty (Illustrator)

Ian Dandleroar is a mythical creature from Celtic folklore who dwells in caves around Ireland feeding on the anecdotes of Irish pilots, relishing in particular the puerile and inane. Neither goblin nor troll, sightings are rare, but old Irish drunks, their eyes wild beneath unkempt brows, speak of an impatient, hunched being, silhouetted over peat bogs lurking briefly in the shadows to gather his offerings before shuffling back underground to read, consider, approve and dismiss by dim candlelight. It has been said that on a fair summer’s evening when a breeze blows lightly from the west, a warm chuckle can be heard faintly in the wind. The chuckle of a contented fellow who, when times are good, basks in a bevy of submissions. But woe betide pilots when the anecdotes dry up, for then the dark clouds descend and the adverse weather demons are summoned to conjure up crosswinds and contaminate runways. Throwing Fruit at Drug Dealers — Tales of an Irish Pilot was found in draft form wrapped in twine by a hiker on 3rd February 2017 at the entrance of the lowest cave of Cave Hill in County Antrim with a simple note attached stating, “share this with the world”. And so here it is…… “Rude, hilarious and surreal. I enjoyed every minute of it.” Geoff Hill, Daily Mirror

176 pages, Paperback

Published May 2, 2017

Reviews

[Tim Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading parts of this book caused tears to roll down my cheeks through laughter. I could imagine being present at so many of the events he described as they were so typical of life in the military and in civil aviation having trod a similar path myself. I have flown with Ian quite a few times now and there is never a dull moment in the flight deck even at 03:00 halfway across The Pond! I am sure he has more than kissed The Blarney Stone🤣🤣🤣